Charlton boss Bowyer explains why they won’t look to switch Carabao Cup tie against Swindon Town
Charlton have opted not to postpone their EFL Cup tie against Swindon Town – because the fixture would be rescheduled between their first two League One games.
The Addicks have had new signing Conor Washington called up by Northern Ireland with Tom Lockyer and Jonny Williams selected by Wales.
The rules state a match can be postponed if you get three or more players picked for international duty.
But Charlton manager Lee Bowyer said: “If we move it then it goes between the Crewe and Doncaster games – we don’t want that.
“That would mean the first week of the season you are going Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday. We have to play the game with hardly any bodies anyway – we have to take a risk with players.
“It’s the same with the Wimbledon game [on Tuesday next week]. We have to hope some don’t get injured because we’ve only been back two weeks and we’ve got to play a proper competitive game when we’re not ready to.”
Adam Matthews, pictured above, is still training with the Addicks despite being a free agent.
Bowyer wants to re-sign the right-back but the EFL’s transfer embargo prevents any more incomings without player exits.
The Charlton manager says Lockyer would not have featured against AFC Wimbledon or Swindon, even if he wasn’t away with Wales.
The former Bristol Rovers man has the option to leave for nothing following the Addicks’ relegation.
“We wouldn’t take the risk of playing Tom Lockyer in any of those games,” said Bowyer. “Maybe the Swindon one actually, because we are using it as a pre-season game.”
PICTURE BY KYLE ANDREWS
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